The Transport Salaried Staff Association and the Rail Maritime and Transport union have given notice to Arriva Trains Northern of their intention to call their station and ticket office members out on another 48 hour strike.

The strike just before the Easter holiday on March 27 and 28 is over a demand for more pay which continues after the Arriva group's recent announcement of a 9pc jump in its profits.

The station and ticket office staff are angry that they earn only half what train drivers are getting.

Steve Coe, TSSA's negotiations officer, said: "The company promised its staff that an offer would be made which would enable us to get back round the negotiating table.

"TSSA members will be bitterly disappointed and let down by the company's apparent lack of urgency in addressing the real sense of injustice they feel."

He appealed to the company to hold talks to reach a settlement.

Commuters in the Tees Valley face disruption to their journeys on the following dates:

* Wednesday March 27: station staff strike.

* Thursday March 28: station staff strike plus a 24 hour strike by conductors also over pay.

* Friday April 5 and Saturday April 6: a 48 hour strike by conductors.

* Friday May 3 and Saturday May 4: a 48 hour strike by conductors.

Conductors at Arriva Northern are angry about a drivers' 18pc pay hike when they are being offered 3pc on their basic rate plus 5pc to be earned by extra productivity.

Arriva made the substantial award to drivers to try to stop poaching by other firms.

Station and retail staff, also represented by the Transport Salaried Staff Association, have had a 3.8pc interim award plus a two-hour reduction in the working week.